The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-06
loss of caste, she could be defiant; but he

=" You were not in p'verty; you were
happy; why, then, did you leave home
for such an occupation as this ?"
Niya looked At the mats silently Her
lips qnivered, the blush that mounted
from her throat to her forehead faded
away, pursued by deadly paleness, and
her limbs trembled 80 much that she
dropped on the ground and hid her face
in her broad sleeves.
An old man entered from the veranda,
and, after bowing to Kampei, deserted the
girl motionless, with her head leaning
against partition
How he cried, angriy, "moping in
this way with the house full of guests
troublesome fellows, too, like those sam
nrai, who curse and threaten if they are
delayed but one moment. Up this in
stant, | say, or / shall use my whip on
your shoulders -
Niya seemed gla'i ,oyescape from Kan,
pei's questions, and she withdrew, fol-
lowed by the master of the house.
Drawing the tobacco stand toward him
Kampei filled and lit his pipe, and while
smoking puzzled himself in endeavoring
to explain Niya's presence there. The
singing in the adjoining chamber grew
more b"i~terous, and sometimes kampei
heard the clash of swords, the voices of
the frightened attendants, and the en-
treaties Of the proprietor. 1t all Jared
on the young mans feelings, and were it
possible he would have left the place.
But there were only miserable villages
between the chaya aud Morioka, and,
apart from his tltigue, the way was
lonely anI dangerous on account Of rob-
hers
He >troltd u lA,.b ack Ut the inn. and
pursued a llttl- tagged pa;i, toward
rustic summer ispn-. erected on At artifi-
cIal mound. \ -ii3t.t rai.irg Oh either
side divided TIE p:th from The garden,
where the >rmm"r chry~anthemums, the
peonl"> aud piuks were bursting into
bloom, while the camilla, azalea and
primrose gave forth their expiring
strength in few delicate fiowers. Some
late violets peeped timidly from the shad-
ow of a huge rock; around the lattice
work of the summer house vine tendrils
struggled with dainty clemAtis, and cher
ry blossoms, from which the house was
named, bloomed in gay profusion every
where.
Sitting there in the silence of the even
ing, the soft landscape spread out beneath
him, the odor OF the garden mounting to
the arbor, Hamper almost forgot his recent
annoyance and indulged in pleasant
dreams of the future. Dusk was advanc-
ing, when he was startled by seeing Niya,
who had approached noiselessly, standing
in the doorway. She uttered a little
scream on finding the summer house occu-
pied, and was about TO 60 away, when
kampei recalled her and desired her in a
harsh voice to sit down. She obeyed, the
blood meanwhile mounting Indignantly to
her forehead; and when kampei looked
severely at her she hastily rushed away
the traces ot rc"e"t tar AN saii defiant
ly:
" Frown not thus, good Kampei; | am
not O-Suba, your betrothed, | am only
Niya. Are not my parents dead =? And
who, then will dare to r-prove me if do
what please? Go to Morioka, kampei,
and let you aud O-Suba forget the wretch
ed Niya, who will never return to her
home"
She rose to her feet while speaking and
was about to leave, when Kampei again
stopped her and said sorrowtully:
"YOu have CT osen mean calling that
your parents would have rejected as vul
gar and disgraceful their spirits are dis
pleased, and you can no more visit their
tombs or pray before the god shelf with
peaceful mind. There was a time that
thought l loved Niya more than O-Suba,
and now-yah, yah y he continued scorn-
fully, aftera pause. get away, you low
creature! You are no longer anything to
me but the miserable tea house attend
ant p
He turned away from her with gesture
Of anger. She clasped her hands to her
side and staggered against the frail wood
work, making the whole structure trem-
bic; then, looking at him wildly, she ut
tered heartbroken cry aud rushed down
the path, past the house and across the
broad road.
Kampei followed the girl with his eyes,
and, when he saw her climb the bank on
the roadside and spring into the river
flowing slowly beyond, he muttered to
himself:
"Tne death of dog is good enough
for one with So mean soul"
But better thoughts quickly came, and
he determined to try and save her.
Niya rose to the surface OF the water,
and her clothing buoyeI her for some mo-
ments. She did not struggle, but kept her
hands thrust into the sleeves of her robe.
She sank again in the smooth current, and
as her face became buried her fortitude
deserted her, and she threw up her arms
with stified shrek.
The bubbles that marked the spot where
she sank were almost gone when kampei
reached the bank, dive~ted of his sandals
and outer garments. He sprang into the
stream. and succeeded in seizing the
drowning girl, who, though nearly insen-
sible, grasped him tightly about the neck,
hindering bis movements. Kampei, find
ing the place shallow, put his feet upon
the ground, but to his terror they sank
into deep mud, and he felt the water
gradually rising upon him. He strained
every muscle, but the water still mounted
until they were both covered. A roar as
of thunder filled his ears, and his head
seemed about to burst, but he managed
to preserve some GOODNESS. BY violent
effort he loosened Niya's frantic embrace,
aud, still grasping her clothing, strug-
gled out of the mud and gained firm
foothold, exhausted and gasping for
breath.
Though his strength was almost gone
and his knees tottered, he held Niya to his
breast, looking anxiously into her face.
Har eves were closed, and her head fell